Look Idaho, I am the last person on this board you need to try to explain how values and the budget works. I have got to start posting more. My infamy is dying.
The Florida system of homestead exemption prevents equitable and fair assessments. That is why I, who has lived in the same house for the last 20 or so years is getting over on you, or if not you, anyone who has moved here recently. My taxes, at my home, are absurdly low.
As for spending it does look like it may actually be falling. Assessments are falling at the county has taken the stand that they are not going to raise millage.
Now you may not get the same treatment from the school side. New statute says it will take a super majority to raise them, followed by a referendum at the next election. I do not think they will because my understanding is the referendum as to be at regular election, not a special election. And I believe legislation did pass prohibiting the expenditure of public funds for any sort of advertisement for tax issues, not sure, and I doubt the Governor has signed yet anyway.
But back to the values, the reason the values are high is because people were paying those ridiculous prices, which all goes back to the home financing crisis orchestrated by Bill Clinton and the Fed and not stopped by Pelosi and Frank when GW warned them all that something like this was going to happen.
And so it begins............
Yes, and to be fair so everyone understands: wrobert's (as a homesteaded property owner) cannot be increased more than 3% (I think it's 3%) per year. In FL, the property appraiser assesses the value of your home on Jan 1st of each year based upon qualifying sales at that time. Mine have come down the last couple of years and I expect it to come down again for 2009.
But, wrobert you are admitting that S. Walton property tax payers are subsidizing you......whereas your ins. prem. is subsidizing S. Walton.
I wonder who wins here? ;-)
